Throughout my life, I’ve been very fortunate to be surrounded by strong, inspiring women: my mother, grandmother, classmates who became friends, and friends who became family. Today, I want to tell you about one of those people — someone who has been a constant in my life for nearly 13 years. Andrea (or Amaral, as we call her) and I have shared classrooms, workplaces, and even lived abroad together. Today, she’s an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist in Puerto Rico, helping people and organizations thrive, a natural extension of how she's always shown up for those around her.
You know how people say, “when we catch up, it’s like no time has gone by”? With us, it’s been a little different. We don’t pretend nothing’s changed — instead, we’ve embraced the challenges, the differences, and the growth that come with time and distance, supporting each other through it all. And looking back, I can’t even pinpoint the exact moment we became friends — it was just something that quietly and inevitably happened. It all started with a random group lunch: two freshmen (“prepas,” as we say in Puerto Rico) meeting up with others who only knew each other from Twitter. From that day on, we were everywhere together—being each others’ plus ones to family events, running errands together and figuring out life as we went.
Between study sessions, fun nights out, having long conversations where obviously both of us were right (being stubborn is another thing we have in common apart from our names), we also ended up being co-workers in two different jobs—one where she brought me in, and the next where I returned the favor a few years later. One day, after completing a work training, we earned a small pin and a certificate, and I remember her turning to me and saying, “I feel like we’re growing together.” To this day, I know that moment unlocked a new level in our friendship — and it perfectly sums up how she approaches life and work: always growing, always lifting others alongside her.
That moment also made me realize something I’ve always known about her: she is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever known—relentless in her pursuit of excellence, endlessly curious, and fiercely determined. Some people work hard, but she also works with purpose. Watching her turn that drive into a career rooted in helping others has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I’ve seen her lift people up, push them forward, and make them believe in themselves the way she’s always believed in me. It’s not just what she does, but also who she is.
What inspires me most about Amaral is how she took something that started as simple curiosity — understanding human behavior — and turned it into a mission to help people thrive at work and beyond. In high school, she was already questioning how people grow and evolve, but it wasn’t until her final year of undergrad, when she discovered Industrial-Organizational Psychology, that it all clicked. She realized that people spend most of their lives at work, and that workplaces can, and should, contribute to personal growth and well-being.
She believes that when people feel good, organizations thrive, and when organizations succeed, so does society as a whole. For Amaral, her work isn’t just about strategy or processes — it’s about building healthier environments where people are given the tools to unlock their potential and feel a true sense of purpose and belonging. That kind of impact is exactly why she’s so committed to what she does every single day.
Some people leave a mark on your life, and then there are the ones who become part of your story — the people who, no matter what, continue to shape and influence your path. That’s who she is for me. Watching her turn what she loves into a career that lifts others up has reminded me that success is about the impact you make and the way you help others feel seen and valued. And if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that she leaves everyone a little better than she found them.
It feels surreal to think about the Andrea's who first met as "prepas" at UPR-RP in 2012. Today, I'm proud of how far we've come and the incredible women we've grown into. Through every challenge and triumph, we've shown up for each other, as I know we always will.
